KATHMANDU: Filmmakers and artistes today started a fast-unto-death protest demanding that the government appoint someone who has contributed to mainstream cinemas as chairperson of Film Development Board (FDB), Nepal.

Those sitting in the fast-unto-death protest on the premises of FDB from today are Mukesh Dhakal, Bimal Paudel, Hemant Budhathoki, Agraj KC, Neela Basnet, Ananta Timsina and Surya Regmi.

Earlier, the protesters were staging a relay hunger strike.

Stating that Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Minister for Information and Communications had picked up Dharmendra Kumar Marbaita aka ‘Pappu’ as FDB chairperson the post ‘against the aspirations of all Nepali filmmakers’, they had announced the protest programme.

They claimed that Pappu had never contributed to mainstream Nepali films.

They have also demanded a provision of Box Office in the film industry to measure revenue.

Meanwhile, CPN-UML leader KP Oli visited the agitating filmmakers and artistes and expressed solidarity. He said their protest would not last long as ‘the countdown for the government had begun’. Oli said the opposition would induct the agendas of filmmakers.

The agitation includes shutting down cinema halls, halting post-production of movies and stopping Pappu from assuming the FDB office. They said their protest would continue until their demands were fulfiled.